Amino resins, e.g., urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde thermosetting resin systems, are catalyzed with high molecular weight polyalkylaromatic polysulfonic acids, e.g., dinonylnaphthalene disulfonic acid and didodecylnaphthalene disulfonic acid. Resins cured with such catalysts provide surface coatings having superior properties. The catalyzed compositions can include other conventional ingredients, capable of co-reacting with the amino resins, such as polyols, polyacids, alkyd resins, polyester resins, and the like, to provide compositions curable to products having a wide range of properties.